Figure toy.



PATENTBD SEPT. 26, 1905.

R. A SOHWAHN.

FIGURE TOY.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 18, 1905.

Q/Vihwowo mew a, GRAHAM co, PMaro-umoammms. wlsnmura? o c UNTTE STATES PATENT @EEICE.

RUDOLPH A. SCHIVAHN, OF EAU CLAIRE, \VISCONSIN.

FIGURE TOY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept, 26, 1905. 7

Application filed April 18, 1905- Serial No. 256,194.

. following is a specification.

My invention pertains to figure toys, and contemplates the provision of a simple and inexpensive toy designed more especially to simulate the attempt of a cat to catch a mouse and calculated to afford considerable amusement to children.

The invention will be fully understood from the following description and claims when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which Figure 1 is a front elevation of the toy constituting the present and preferred embodiment of my invention as the same appears when ready for use. Fig. 2 isa similar view with the front wall of the toy removed to illustrate the interior mechanism and showing the levers in the positions they assume immediately precedent to jumping toward the left. Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken in the plane indicated by the line 3 3 of Fig. 2 looking downwardly, and Fig. 4 is an elevation illustrating the side of the rotary actuating device opposite to that shown in Fig. 2.

Similar letters designate corresponding parts in all of the views of the drawings, referring to which A is the body of my novel toy, which is preferably of wood and is provided on the upper portion of its face with a picture of an apartment or the like, as shown, and B is a wall disposed in front of the body A and separated therefrom by interposed pieces a, so as to afford a play-space for the working parts hereinafter set forth. The said body A and wall B are attached to a base C, so as to adapt the toy to be stood upright on. a table or other support, and are preferably arranged within side and top walls I) and '0, of pasteboard or other material suitable to the purpose.

D is a vertically-swinging lever fulcrumed. adjacent to its lower end on a projection (Z on the face of the body A and having a lower short arm 0 and an upper comparatively long arm On the upper end of the said arm f is a figure E, which in the present embodiment of my invention is that of a mouse, although I desire it distinctly understood that the figure may be of any description without involving departure from the scope of my invention.

F is a second vertically-swinging lever, which is fulcrumed at its lower end on the face of the body A and is provided on its inner edge at an intermediate point of its length with a shoulder g. This lever F carries at its upper end a figure Cr, which in the present illustration of the invention is that of a eat, but which may be of any other description compatible with the figure borne by the lever D.

H and I are springs complementary to the I levers D and F, respectively, and having for their purpose to quickly move the said levers toward the left and into the positions shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1 when the levers are released, as presently set forth. The said springs are preferably strips of elastic, which are connected at one end to the levers and extend toward the left therefrom and are connected at their opposite ends to the lower portion of the face of the body A.

J is the rotary actuating device of the toy. This device preferably comprises a journal h, disposed in a bearing 6 in body A; an inner cam j, disposed in the same vertical plane as the lever F and having an abrupt shoulder in; an outer or forward cam Z, disposed in the same vertical plane as the lever D and having an abrupt shoulder m; a journal a, bearing in and extending forwardly beyond the wall B, and a suitable handle 12, mounted on the said journal at.

In the practical use of my novel toy the parts normally rest in the relative positions shown in Fig. 1f. 6., with the figure simulating the mouse hidden behind the wall B and the figure simulating the cat extending above the upper edge of the said wall. When the parts are in the positions stated and the rotary actuating device is turned slowly to ward the right through the medium of the handle p, it will be observed that both of the levers and the figures thereon will be moved slowly toward the right. It will also be observed that the figure simulating a cat will be moved to its position at the right precedent to the upward movement of the figure simulating the mouse toward the right, this with a view of rendering the action more natural and realistic. WVhen the figures simulating the cat and mouse are in the positions last stated, the abrupt shoulders of the cams on the rotary actuating device will on further movement of the said device toward the right enable the springs H and I to suddenly draw the levers D and F quickly toward the left into the positions shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1, and, as will be readily appreciated, this action will closely resemble the move; ments of a mouse and a eat when the former attempts to escape from the latter.

It will be gathered from the foregoing that my novel toy is very simple and may therefore be sold with profit for a small price; also, that the toy is adapted to afford considerable amusement to adults as well as children.

Having described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a toy of the class described, the com bination of a body. two levers fulcrumed thereon, a rotary actuating device mounted in the body and comprising a cam arranged to move one lever in one direction and then extend slightly above the upper edge of said wall, and a rotary actuating device mounted in the body, between the fulcrums of the levers, and comprising a cam arranged to move cone lever in one direction and then suddenly release the same, and a cam fixed with respect to the first-mentioned cam and arranged to synchronously move the other lever in the same direction and then suddenly release said lever, and means for suddenly moving the levers in the opposite direction immediately subsequent to the release of the levers.

3. In a toy of the class described. the combination of a body, a wall fixed in front of the lower portion of the body so as to alford a play-space between the two, a lever fulcrumed at an'intermediate point of its length in the said space, a lever fulcrumed at its lower end in said space and having a shoulder on its inner edge at an intermediate point of suddenly release the same and a cam fixed E its length, springs connecting the said levers with respect to the first-mentioned cam and l and the body and adapted to move the former arranged to synchronously move the other lever in the same direction and then suddenly moving the levers in the opposite direction immediately subsequent to the release of the levers.

2. In a toy of the class described, the combination of a body, a wall fixed in front of the lower portion of the body so as to afford a play-space between the two, levers movable synchronously in said space and arranged to toward the left, and a rotary actuating device I mounted in the body and comprising cams release sald lever, and means for suddenly provided with abrupt shoulders and arranged l l r l to move the said levers toward the right.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing w1tnesses.

RUDOLPH A. SCHWAHN. Witnesses:

E. J. CAMMAGK, C. J. OLSON. 

